高中二年级英语(人教版)上册 Unit 3 Integrating Skills 1

　　When the army factory moved some years ago, the factory buildings were no longer used. Until about a year ago most of the workshops in the factory stood empty. Some art companies asked if they could move into the empty space and rent parts of the factory. This was the beginning of the development of this area into a centre for the arts, bringing together Chinese artists, art companies, musicians, a Japanese teahouse, a Sichuan restaurant, a bookshop and a dance club.

　　Old factory buildings have many halls and workshops of different sizes. Painters and other artists can move into the smaller rooms to use them as studios to paint, while music bands rent space to practise. Smaller halls can be changed into shops and restaurants while the main factory hall can be used for concerts, parties and dance festivals.

　　Young, beginning artists and musicians often do not have enough money to rent studios or other buildings to practise, perform or even work and live in. They like these buildings because the rooms and halls are often very large, which is good for artists who want to make large objects. Besides, many of these buildings were constructed far from the city, so that people in the neighbourhood are not disturbed when rock musicians move in and practise for a concert.